THE TRIUMPHS OF JUSTICE OVERDO  judges:  

EXHIBITING, 

I. The Names and Crimes of Four and Forty judges Hanged in one Year in England, as Murderers for their corrupt Judgements.  
II. The Case of the Lord Chief Justice Tresilian, Hanged at Tyburn, and all the rest of the Judges of England (save one) banished in K. Rich. the 2ds Time.  
III. The Crimes of Empson and Dudley, Executed in K. Henry the 8th's Days.  
iv The Proceed of the Ship-money-Judges in the Reign of K. Charles the First.  
V Divers other Precedents both Ancient and Modern.    
To which is added 

VI The Judge's OATH, and some Observations thereupon.     
Humbly Dedicated to the Lord Chief justice Scroggs.  Discite Justitiam moniti, & non temnere Leges. 
LONDON, Printed for Benjamin Harris, at the Stationer's Arms in the Piazza under the Royal Exchange. 1681.   

TO Sir William Scroggs Kt. LORD CHIEF JUSTICE Of His Majesty's Court of KINGS-BENCH AT WESTMINTER.  
I Know not to whom I could more properly Dedicate a Treatise of this Nature, than to Your Lordship, who is at Present Lord Chief Justice of England, and have set such remarkable Copies to inferior Magistrates. What is here offered, is neither Prophecy nor Plaster, Lampoon, nor Romance; but a clear Mirror retrieved out of the Closet of wise Antiquity, In which future Administrators of public Justice would do well to Look; For you know, My Lord, Common-Law runs much upon Precedents; And if a Man happen to have none of the best Physiognomies, there is no reason why he should strait grow angry; and fling stones to break all the Looking-Glasses he meets with, only because they represent the true Figure of the Object.  
'Tis a Privilege we Scribblers that writ for Bread, hold by Prescription, to put any great Body's name in the front of our Book. Princes have not been able to exempt themselves or their Favourites from the Persecution of Dedications, nor is there (I humbly conceive) any Rule made in Your Lordship's Court to forbid them.  
Suffer then, I beseech Your Lordship this Address to remain a Monument to Posterity of the Sentiments this Age has of Your Lordship's Conduct and Merits, and witness to all the world how much its Author, is  
Westminster-Hall this 23 of Dec. 1680. Your Lordship's most humble Servant Philo-Dicaios.   

THE TRIUMPHS OF JUSTICE OVERDO  judges. etc.  
UNdoubtedly there may be, because there has been too often in the World; such a thing, such a sin, such a mischief, as Corruption of judges, that is, when by means of Pecuniary, or other Bribes, or (which is all out as bad) Threaten, Promises of Reward, Malice, Revenge, hopes of greater, or fears of being turned out of present Preferments, or any other ill motive; They that are appointed and Sworn to Administer equal and impartial Right and Justice, are wrapped aside, or Biased to serve a Turn, or Wreck a private Grudge, or to free the Guilty, or condemn the Innocent; or to lean rather to the one side, than to the other; or wilfully to declare that to be Law, which they cannot but know is not so; or to adjudge punishments disproportionate to the Crimes that appear before them, or any the like base, illegal practices.  
How odious this Vice is, to God and Man, as being equally destructive to Religion, and Humane Society; and how severely it has been heretofore punished, by both, may appear by The Ensuing Examples.  
1. As to God, who is Capitalis Justitiarius Caeli & Terrae, the Grand never-erring Justiciary of all the World. His Sacred Word prohibits nothing more positively, nor omplain of any thing louder, or with more repeated importunities. Thou shalt not rest the judgement of the poor in his cause; Thou shalt take no gift, for a gift blindeth the eye of the wise, and perverteth the words of the Righteous, Ex. 23.6 and 8 ver. Thou shalt not rest juegment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift, etc. Deut. 16.19. Woe unto them that justify the wicked for reward, and taketh away the righteousness of the righteous from him, Isa. 5.23. A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom ('tis done you see slyly, and in the dark) to pervert the ways of judgement, Prov. 17 23. Woe unto ye who turn judgement into wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, Amos 5.7. The good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upwright amongst men; They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother as with a net, that they may do evil with both hands earnestly. The Prince asketh, and the Judge gapeth for a reward; and the great man uttereth his mischievous desire, so they wrap it up: the best of them is as a briar, the most upright is sharper than a thorn-hedg, etc. Mic. 7.2, 3, & 4 ver. with many of the like Texts.  
2, As corrupt Judges are thus obnoxious to the Curse of God, so hath his Divine Providence not seldom Executed it upon them even in this world by the hands of men. Nor indeed is there any thing that can render Kings (Gods Vicegerents) more Glorious, or better establish any state, than to keep the Current of Justice clear and unsullied; and exemplarily to punish their Subordinate Ministers, and especially Judges that shall presume to impoison that Sacred Fountain.  
Several Heathen Princes are Renowned for this wholesome severity. 'Tis said of Alexander Severus the Roman Emperor, that he had such an aversion and abhorrence of unjust Judges, that at the very sight of them he would vomit Choler, & was ready with his fingers to pluck out their eyes-Theatrum Historicum, f. 546.  
The Mighty Monarch Cambyses, King of Persia, finding that one Sisamnes his Chief Justice (Proeses our Author calls him in Latin) had received a Bribe, and for the same pronounced an unjust Sentence, forthwith caused him to be Executed, and curiously flayed, and with his skin covered the Common Seat of Justice, and Constituted Otanes (the said Sisamnes' own Son) Judge in his Room; That so beholding daily those Relics of his justly-punisht Father; It might serve as a Memento to him to act more uprightly. Chronicon Carionis l. 2. p. 19  
But not to search so far off,— our own Nation affords us (perhaps) the most notable and numerous Examples of Royal Justice in this kind of any in the world. For we find it Recorded in that Ancient Law-Book, Entitled The Mirror of Justices (most of which is said to be Compiled before the Conquest, and Augmented by the Learned Andrew Horn in the Reign of K. Edw. the Is. and which is often Cited by the Famous Lord Coke, and to this day continues in good Repute amongst Lawyers) That King Alfred, a Renowned Saxon-Prince, who Governed this Realm about the Year of our Lord 900. did in one years' space bring to Condign punishment, no fewer than four and forty of his Justices, (so the Law Terms those we call Judges; and this was long before, either Justices of the Peace Established, or the Courts fixed at Westminster: But Justice was in those days Administered in the Country, in Neighbouring Courts, which yet (as appears by the nature of the offences alleged against them) had jus vitae & necis, power of life and death, and so may properly be called Judges) whose Names and particular Crimes here follow in the words of that worthy Author, p. 296. of the French, and p. 239 of the English Edition.  
It is an abuse that Justices and their Officers who kill People by false judgement, be not destroyed, which King Alfred caused to be done, who caused Forty four justices in one year, to be hanged as Murderers for their false judgements.  
1. He hanged Darling because he judged Sidulf to death, for the retreat of Edulf his Son, who afterward; acquitted him of the Fact.  
2. He hanged Segnar, who judged Ulf to death after sufficient acquittal.  
3. He hanged Cadwine, because that he judged Hachwy to death without the Consent of all the Jurors; for whereas he had put himself upon a jury of Twelvemen; & because that three would havesaved him against the Nine: Cadwine removed the three and put others upon the jury, upon whom Hachwy put not himself.  
4. He hanged Cole, because he judged Ive too death when he was a Madman.  
5. He hanged Malme, because he Judged Prat to death upon a false suggestion that he committed the felony.  
6. He hanged Athulf, because he caused Copping to be hanged before the Age of one and twenty years. [It was against Law then, but now nequitia supplet Aetatem.]  
7. He hanged Marks, because he judged During to death by twelve men that were not sworn.  
8. He hanged Ostline, because he judged Seaman to death by a false Warrant, grounded upon false suggestion, which supposed Seaman to be a Person in the warrant, which he was not.  
9 He hanged Billing, because he judged Leston to death by fraud: In this manner, he said to the People, sit all ye here but he who killed the man, and because that Leston did not sit with the other, he commanded him to be hanged, and said that he did assist, where he knew he did not assist to kill the Party.  
10. He hanged Seafoul, because he judged Ording to death, as not answering.  
11. He hanged Thurston, because he judged Thurgner to death by a Verdict of Inquest, taken ex officio, without Issue joined.  
12. He hanged Athelston, because he judged Herbert to death for an offence not mortal.  
13. He hanged Rambold, because he judged Leschild in a Case not notorious, without Appeal, and without Indictment.  
14. He hanged Rolf, because he judged Dunston to die for an escape out of prison.  
15. He hanged Frebern, because he judged Harpin to die, whereas the July were in doubt of their verdict, for in doubtful cases one ough rather to save than condemn.  
16. He hanged Seabright, who judged Athebrus to death, because he had discharged one that had given a false judgement in a Case Capital.  
17. He hanged Hale, because he saved Tristrain the Sheriff from death, who took to the King's use from another goods against his will, for as much as any such taking from another against his will, and Robbery hath no difference.  
18. He hanged Arnold, because he saved Bailiffs, who rob the people by colour of Distresses; some by selling Distresses, such, and others by extortion of Fines; because between such tortuous Acts and Robbery there was no difference.  
19 He hanged Erkinwald, because he hanged Frankling, for nought else, but because he taught to him who vanquished him by Battle-mortal to say the word Cravant.  
20. He hanged Bermond, because he caused Garbot to be beheaded by his judgement in England, for that, for which he was outlawed in Ireland.  
21. He hanged Alkman, because he saved Cateman by colour of Disseisin, who was Attaited of Burglary.  
22. He hanged Saxmond, because he hanged Barold in England where the King's Writ runneth for a fact which he did in the same Land, where the King's Writ did not run.  
23. He hanged Alflet, because he judged a Clerk to death over whom he had no Cognizance.  
24. He hanged Piron, because he judged Huntiny to death; because he gave judgement in Appeal before the forty days pendant; the Appeal by a Writ of false judgement before the King.  
25. He hanged Delani, because he caused Eldons to be hanged, who killed a man by misfortune.  
26. He hanged Oswin, because he judged Fulcher to death out of Court.  
27. He hanged Mucdin, because he hanged Helgrave by warrant of Indictment not special.  
He hanged Horn, because he hanged Simin at days forbidden.  
29. He hanged Wolmer, because he judged Grant to death by colour of a Larceny, of a thing which he had received by Title of Bailment.  
30. He hanged Therberne because he Judged Osgot; to death for a Fact whereof he was Acquitted before against the same Plaintiff; which Acquittance he tendered to aver by Oath, and because he would not aver it by Record, Therbern would not allow of the Acquittal which he tendered him.  
31. He hanged Wolston because he adjudged Howbert to death at the suit of the King, for a fact which Howbert confessed, and of which the King gave him his Pardon, but he had no Charter thereof; nevertheless he vouched the King to Warrant it, and further tendered to aver it by enrolment of the Chancery.  
32. He hanged Oskitell because he Judged Cutlinge to death by the Record of the Coroner, where by Replication allowable, the Plea did not hold; And the Case was such, Cutling was taken and Tortured so much, as he confessed he had Mortally offended, only to be quitted of the pain; and Oskitell adjudged him to death upon such his Confession which he had made to the Coroner, without trial of the truth of the Torture or the Fact. And further the said King caused the Coroners and Officers Accessories to be apprehended who hanged the people, and all those that might have hindered the false Judgement, and did not hinder the same in all cases: For he hanged all the Judges who had falsely saved any man guilty of Death; or hath falsely hanged any man against Law, or any reasonable Exception.  
He hanged the Suitors of Calevot, because they had adjudged a man to death in a case not notorious, although he were guilty thereof; for no man can Judge within the Realm but the King, or his Commissaries, except those Lords in whose Lordships the King's Writ doth not run.  
He hanged the Suitors of Dorcester, because they Judged a man to death by Jurors in their Liberty for a Felony done out of it, and whereof they had not the Conusance by reason of forraignty.  
He hanged the Suitors of Cirencester, because they kept a man so long in Prison, that he died in prison, who would have acquitted himself by Foreigners that he offended not Feloniously.  
['Tis supposed these Suitors of each place were Four in Number, which completes the number of 44. Hanged in all.]  
In his time also the Suitors of Doncaster lost their Jurisdiction, besides other Punishments, because they held Pleas forbidden by the Customs of the Realm to Ordinary Judges and Suitors to hold.  
In this time Colgrin lost his Franchise of Enfangthief, because he would not send a Thief to the common Gaol of the County, who was taken within his Liberty, and not Bailable.  
In this time Buttolph lost his view of Frank-pledges because he charged the Jurours with other Articles than those which belonged to the View, and Amerced people in personal Actions where one was not to be amerced by a pecuniary Punishment: And accordingly he caused punishments of Death to Criminal Judges for wrongful mortal Judgements, and so he did proportionably for wrongful Judgements of a lesser nature: As Imprisonment for wrongful Imprisonments, and and like for like with the other Punishments; for he delivered Thelweld to Prison, because he Judged men to Prison for Offences where they ought not to be Imprisoned.  
He Judged Lithing to Prison because he imprisoned Herbote for the Offence of his Wife.  
He Judged Rutwood to Prison because he Imprisoned Old for the King's Debt.  
[Note, In those days people were not to be Imprisoned for Debt, but only their Goods distrained.]  
On the other side, he Cut off the Hand of Haulf, because he saved Armorks Hand, who was Attainted before him, that he had Feloniously wounded Richbold.  
He Judged Edulfe to be wounded, because he Judged not Arnold to be wounded, who had Feloniously wounded Aldens.  
In lesser Judgements he did not meddle with the Judgements; but Disinherited the Justices, and Removed them according to the Points of those Statutes, where he could understand that they had Transgressed their Jurisdiction, or the Bounds of their Delegacy or Commission; or had concealed Fines or Amerciaments or aught that belonged to the King, or had Released or Increased any Punishment contrary to Law, or procured Plead without Warrant, etc.  
Thus far Horns Mirror.  
Now that this Alfred was one of the Wisest and most Renowned Kings that ever this Land was happily Governed by, appears, as well by the Eulogies given him by the Ancients, as those Encomiastic Verses Dedicated to his Memory, by a present Ingenious Courtier, Sir Winston Churchill, Kt. in his Diri Britannici, Fol. 140.  
Who would not follow him into the Field,  
Who cannot choose but Conquer tho' he yield?  
Whose Sword cut deep, yet was his Wit more keen,  
Some Fence 'gainst that; But this did wound unseen.  
To thee is due (Great Elfrid!) double praise;  
To thee we bring the Laurel and the Bays.  
Master of Arts and Arms, Apollo so  
Sometimes did use his Harp, sometimes his Bow,  
And from the other Gods got this Renown  
To Reconcile the Gauntlet to the Gown.  
But who did e'er with the same Sword like Thee,  
Execute Justice, and the Enemy?  
Keep up at once the Law of Arms and Peace,  
And from the Camp Issue out Writs of Ease.  
The next English Prince of Renown before the Norman Conquest, was King Edgar, about the year 960. Amongst whose Noble Acts 'tis recorded as none of the least memorable, that in his Circuits and Progresses through the Country, he would take Account of the Demeanour of his Lords, and especially of his Judges, whom he severely Punished, if he found them Delinquents: Bakers Chron. Fol. 11.  
Nor have the best and wisest of our Princes since the Conquest, been less ready to give up Ill Judges to just Punishment, nor our English Parliaments wanting to bring them to it.  
In the pear 1290. being (saith Walsingham, p. 54.) the 17th year of Edw. 1. Justitiarios ferè omnes de falsitate deprehensos a suo Officio deposuit ipsos juxta merita puniens gravi Mulctâ. He finding almost all his Judges guilty of Corruption, put them out of their places, and Punished them according to their Demerits with heavy Fines. Which the Lord Cook in the Second part of his Institutes, Fol. 508. likewise takes notice of, and tells us, That this was done by a Parliament held after the Feast of St. Hillary, and only two Judges scaped . But how severe the Fines of the other Delinquents were, appears in Baker's Chronicle, fol. 100 Sir Ralph de Hengham (says he) Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench, for Corruption was Fined 7000 Marks; Sir John Lovetot one of the Justices of the Common Pleas 3000 Marks; Sir William Brompton 6000 Marks; Sir Solomon Rochester 4000 Marks; Sir Richard Boyland 4000 Marks; Sir Walter Hopton 2000 Marks; Sir William Saham in 3000 Marks; Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls in 1000 Marks; Roger Leicester in 1000 Marks; Hugh Bray Escheator and Judge for the Jews, 1000 Marks; But Sir Adam Stratton Chief Baron of the Exchequer (who it seems had been a notable Bribe-fingerer) four and thirty Thousand Marks, [A prodigious Sum almost 400 years ago!] And Sir Thomas Wayland Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas being found the greatest Offender of all, was Attainted of Felony for taking of Bribes, and his Lands and Goods Forfeited: as appears in the Pleas of Parliament, 18 Edw. 1. And he was also Banished the Kingdom, as unworthy to live in that State against which he had so much Offended.  
Sir William Thorp Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench in K. Edw. the Thirds time, having of five several persons received five several Bribes, which in all amounted to 100 l. was for this alone adjudged to be Hanged, and all his Goods and Lands Forfeited.  
The reason of the Judgement is entered in the Roll in these words— Quia praedictus Willielmus Thorpe qui Sacramentum Domini Regis erga populum suum habuit ad Custodiendum, fregit malitiosè, falsè & Rebelliter quantum in ipso fuit. Because that as much as in him lay, he had broken the King's Oath made to the People, which the King had Entrusted him withal.  
And so much did the then Collective Wisdom of the Nation respect Judges herein, that 'tis expressly entered, that this Judgement should not be drawn into example against any other Officers who should break their Oaths, but only against those, Qui predictum Sacramentum fecerunt et fregerunt, et habent Leges Angliae ad Custodiendum. That is, only to the Judges that violate their Oaths, having the Laws of England Entrusted unto them.  
This judgement was given 24 Edw. 3 d. The next year in the Parliament 25 Edw. 3. Numero 10. it was debated in Parliament, Whether this judgement was Legal, and Nullo Contradicente, unanimously it was declared to be just and according to the Law, and that the same judgement may be given in time to come upon the like occasion. Which Case, I humbly conceive, resolves the Case in Law Point Blank thus: That it is death for any Judge wittingly to break his Oath in any part of it. This Oath of Thorp is entered in the Roll, and is the same verbatim, with the judge's Oath in 18 Edw. 3: The same too (as I humbly conceive) which our judges now a days take, and is herein afterwards punctually recited.  
The Oaths of our judges of England, as they bind them to the due Administration of justice to the Subject, according to the Laws, (which are every Freeman's Birthright) so also, as they be of the King's Council, they are by such their Oaths obliged, lawfully to counsel him, that is, whenever their opinions are demanded, they are sworn and bound to deliver them according to the Law.— Let us see how our Ancestors resented these matters.  
In a Parliament held in the 11th year of Richard the 2. there was judgement of High-Treason given against 18 several Persons, and all, save one of them, of Eminent Rank; Three Privy Counsellors, viz. The Archbishop of York, The Duke of Ireland, and Earl of Suffolk, the Bishop of Exeter, the King's Confessor, Five Knights, of whom some had been Servants to Edw. the 3. and all, but one, Servants to the then King, and some of them of Noble Descent; but that which I more particularly observe, there were amongst them Six Judges, and Locton the King's Sergeant at Law; Blake of the King's Council at Law, and Usk the under- Sheriff of Middlesex.  
Of these 18, 8 were Executed, that is, Sir Robert Tresilian, the Lord Chief justice was drawn from the Tower, through the midst of London, to Tyburn, and there Hanged; so likewise were Usk and Blake, and Sir john Salisbury; but the other 4 Knights had the Favour to be Beheaded.  
Three, that is, the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Ireland, and the Earl of Suffolk, died miserable Fugitives in foreign Parts.  
The other seven (whereof five were Judges) with much ado got a Pardon as to Life, but were banished, and their Lands and Goods all forfeited; and it was made Felony for any to procure their Recalling home, and themselves forthwith to be executed as Traitors, if at any time they should presume to return.  
And of these eighteen Persons, all save three were impeached by the Commons.  
The Offences which procured these Exemplary Punishments, were briefly these:  
King Richard the II. being an unthinking dissolute Prince, by the ill counsel of some near his Person, there had during his minority happened divers miscarriages in the Government: To redress which, in a Parliament holden in the tenth year of his Reign, and the twentieth of his Age, a Commission was awarded to Twelve Peers, and others of greatest Wisdom and Ability, impowering them to inspect the past management of the Household, the Revenue, the Courts of Justice, and in a word, all things that did concern the Good of the Realm; with full power finally to determine, and put all things in execution, so as might most tend to the Honour of the King, Relief of the People, and Safety of the Land; which Commission was to endure only one year.  
Now come five of the Persons , viz. the Archbishop, the Duke, the Earl of Suffolk, the Chief Justice, and Brembre, who seeing themselves like to be called to Account for their pernicious Counsels and Irregularities, and to be brought to deserved shame and punishment; to avoid the same, and continue their Villainies for the future, they insinuated to the King, That this Commission entrenched upon the Royal Power, and was derogatory to the Crown, that the procurers thereof had extorted His Royal Assent thereunto in Parliament; and that this was Treason: for so the Chief Justice and Blake the King's Council, who was advised withal in the Writ, declared it to be; whereupon Blake was commanded to prepare an Indictment of Treason against all the said Commissioners, and against such others as had been most active in procuring that Authority: Accordingly he draws the Indictment which stands entered in the Roll, and is to this effect, That they the said Commissioners, etc. had Traitorously conspired among themselves to make this Commission by Authority of Parliament against the Royalty of the King, to his disherison, and in derogation of the Crown, and that they forced the King's Consent, and confederated themselves to maintain one another in so doing.  
It was designed that they should be tried upon this Indictment in Middlesex or London, and therefore (some of the parties to be prosecuted not being Peers) Usk the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex was acquainted with the business, (who was to return a Pack'd-Iury (you see that's a very old Game) that might be sure to do the business, which he performing accordingly, was therefore hanged.  
But further, the five grand Favourites, that the King might the more confide in their Counsels, (for so are the words of the Record) and that under colour of Law, they might cover their malice from the King and the Kingdom, before the Trials were to be brought on, advise the King to demand the Opinion of some of the Judges, that is, of the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron, and the Judges of the Common-Pleas, six in all in number, and of Locton the King's Sergeant; Blake, of the King's Council at Law, was commanded to draw up those Questions, who did it accordingly, and for drawing the same, and the  Indictment, he was himself Drawn and Hanged.  
The Questions being prepared in Writing; the judges were sent for to Nottingham Castle, where in the Kings own Presence, they were commanded upon their Allegiance to deliver their Opinions,  

1. Whether the Commission was derogatory to the Rights of the Crown? They answered, It was.  
2. Whether the persuading and urging the King to consent thereunto in Parliament, was Treason? They answered, That it was.   
Here were other Questions asked, but these were the Main, and those for which they were condemned, as appears by the Replication of the Commons to the judges Answer, and by the Words of the judgement— That they the said judges knew that this Commission was awarded in Parliament, etc. that it was for the Public Good; That they knew of the Traitorous Intent to destroy the Procurers of this Commission; That they knew the Law, and that it was not Treason, and had delivered such Opinions thereby, under colour of Law, to cover their Treasonable Intent, and therefore judgement of High-Treason was given against them, and against Locton the King's Sergeant, who had Subscribed these False Opinions with the judges. And though there be other Articles against the Rest, yet this alone is adjudged Treason, in the several judgements against every one of the Eighteen: And 'tis observable, That in all these judgements, they are adjudged Traitors as well against the Person of the King, as against the Commonwealth.  
And it is there declared upon great Advice taken, That in Treasons which concern the King and Kingdom, they are not bound to proceed according to the Rules of the Common-Law, but according to the Course of Parliaments, so as may be for the Common-Good. Nor were these judgements huddled up in haste, but given upon long and mature Deliberation, the Work of a Whole Parliament. And it is declared in the Roll, That they spent long time, and took great pains in examining the Evidence, the better thereby to satisfy their own Consciences and the World. Their Proceed against the five Plotters were begun the 14 of Novemb. and the judgements were not given till the 15 of Feb. following, which is a Quarter of a Year.  
'Tis also to be observed, That several of these judges were very unwilling to give their Corrupt Opinions, but were menaced and violently drawn thereunto by the Duke of Ireland and others. And at their Trials, they severally Alleged, That in part Violence had been offered to their Persons, because they had deferred the delivery of their Opinions. But as Fear or Cowardice is no Plea for delivering up of the Forts or Bulwarks of the Kingdom, so neither is it for basely betraying our Rights and Liberties. These Allegations of being threatened from their Duty, could not excuse them from the Rope: but how much more than do they deserve it who shall presume to do as bad things or worse, without any Menaces at all, but wilfully and presumptuously, purely out of their own base inclinations?  
But Tresilian was not the only judge which our English History, even since the Conquest, mentions to have been executed for irregular Practices: For in the Reign of King Henry the Seventh, a Wise but Avaricious Prince, there were two Gentlemen of the Long Robe, that for private Interest, and to serve the King's present Turn, were ready to dispense with their Oaths, and the known Fundamental Laws. But as they lived hated during his time, so they died unlamented under his Successor, being given up a necessary Sacrifice to Public justice..  
Their Names were, Sir Richard Empson Knight, and Edmund Dudley, both (saith Sir Richard Baker, fol. 247.) Lawyers, and both of them Barons of the Exchequer, and justices of the Peace throughout England: Dudley of a good Family, but Empson the Son of a Sieve-maker: So true is that Remark of the Poet; Mendico asperius nihil est cum surgit ad Altum.  
There is no Person in the World more Haughty, or an Apt Tool for Oppression, than a Beggar's Brat, or some base Mechanic, Butcherly Offspring, when undeservedly flushed with Preferment.  
The King made odd Use of these Two Instruments. They turned (says Baker) Law into Rapine. And most certain it is, that many ill Things they did: But the better to colour their vile Practices, a Statute was Provided, to Justify their Invasions on the Liberties and Properties of their Fellow-Subjects.  
We will give you an Account of this Matter, in the very Words of that Great Oracle of our Law, Sir Edward Cook. But first, hear how Sir Richard Baker, in his Chronicle, fol. 247. represents them:  
Their Manner was (saith he) to cause divers Subjects to be Indicted of Crimes, and then presently to Commit them, and not Produce them to their Answer, but suffer them to Languish long in Prison; and by sundry Artificial Devices and Terror, extort from them great Fines, which they termed Compositions and Mitigations. Neither did they (towards the End) observe so much as the Half-Face of Justice, in Proceeding by Indictment; but sent forth their Precepts to Attach Men, and Convent them before Themselves, and some Others, at their private Houses; and there shuffle up a Summary Proceeding by Examination, Without Trial by jury; assuming to themselves to deal both in Pleas of the Crown, and Controversies Civil. Then did they also use to Enthral, and Charge the Subjects Land with Tenors in Capite, by finding False Offices, refusing upon divers Pretexts and Delays, to admit Men to Traverse those False Offices. Nay, contrary to all Law and Colour, they maintained, That the King ought to have the Half of men's Lands and Rents, during the Space of full Two Years, for a Pain, in case of Outlawry. They would likewise Ruffle with Jurors, and enforce them to Find, as they would Direct: And if they did not, than Convent, Imprison, and Fine them. These, and many other Courses they had, of Preying upon the People, and had ever a Rabble of Promoters, and Leading Jurors at their Command, so as they could have any Thing found, either for Fact, or Valuation.  
Thus far the Historian. Now, take the Relation of the Reverend Judge Cook, in his ever-valuable Works, Commenting in the Second Part of his Institutes on that GOLDEN Nine and Twentyeth Chapter of Magna Charta; which being of Inestimable Value, I take it for granted, no True English Man will any more grudge the Reading, than I do the Recital of it; and I wish it might every Market-Day, be repeated with a Speaking-Trumpet, in every Town and Corporation of this Kingdom. The Words run thus: Nullus Liber Homo, etc.  
No Freeman shall be Taken, or Imprisoned, or Disseised of his Free-Tenement or Liberties, or Free-Customs; or be Outlawed, or Exiled, or in any manner Destroyed: Nor will we pass upon him, nor send any (to pass) upon him: But by the Lawful Judgement of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land. We will Sell to none, we will Deny to none, nor to any delay Justice or Right.  
Discoursing, I say, upon this most Comprehensive Text, the Cornerstone of all our English Freedoms, my Lord Cook, 2 Instit. fol. 51. thus expresses himself:  
Against this Ancient and Fundamental Law, and in the Face thereof, I find an Act of Parliament made 11 H. 7. Cap. 3. That as well Justices of Assize, as Justices of the Peace, (without any Finding, or Presentment by the Verdict of Twelve Men) upon a bare Information for the King, before them made, should have full Power and Authority, by their Discretions, to Hear and Determine all Offences, etc.  
And Fourth Part, Instit. fol. 39 he gives a further Account of, and Recites this Act thus:  
There was an Act of Parliament made in the 11 H. 7. which had a Fair, Flattering Preamble, pretending to avoid divers Mischiefs, which were, 1. The High Displeasure of Almighty God. 2. The great Let of the Common-Law. And, 3. The great Let of the Wealth of this Land. And the Purview of that Act tended in the Execution contrary, Ex Diametro, viz. To the Displeasure of Almighty God, The great Let, nay, the utter Subversion of the Common-Law, and, The great Let of the Wealth of this Land; Which Act followeth in these Words:  
THe King our Sovereign Lord, calling to his Remembrance, That many good Statutes, and Ordinances be made for the Punishment of Riots, and unlawful Assemblies, Reteinders in giving, and receiving of Liveries, Signs, and Tokens unlawfully, Extortions, Maintenances, Imbracery, Excessive taking of Wages, contrary to the Statute of Labourers and Artificers, the Use of unlawful Games, Inordinate Apparel, etc. to the displeasure of Almighty God, etc. notwithstanding that generally, by the justices of the Peace, in every Shire within this Realm, in the open Sessions, it is given in Charge to inquire of many Offences committed, etc. and divers Inquests thereupon straightly Sworn, and Charged before the said justices to inquire of the Premises, and therein to present the Troth, which they letted to be sound by Imbracery, Maintenance, Corruption, and Favour; by occasion whereof, the said Statutes be not nor cannot be put in due Execution: For Reformation whereof, forsomuch that before this time the said Offences, Extortions, Contempts, etc. might not, nor as yet may be conveniently Punished by the due Order of Law, except it were first found, and presented by the Verdict of Twelve ●●en thereto duly Sworn, who for the Causes before Recited will not find, nor present the Truth; wherefore be it by the Advice, and Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by Authority of the same Enacted, Ordained, and Established; That from henceforth, as well the justices of Assize as the justices of the Peace, in every County of the said Realm upon Information [Note, it was to be without any Presentment, or Indictment found by any Grand or Petty Jury] for the King, etc. shall have full Power, & Authority by their Discretion to hear, & determine all Offences, etc.  
Here you see Matters were left to be determined by Judges, and Justices Without juries, in a Summary, Chancery-Method, only according forsooth! to their Discretion: Yet still there was a Proviso,  
THat no such Information should extend to Treason, Murder, or Felony; nor to any other Offence, for which any Person should lose Life or Member: Nor to lose by, or upon the same Information, any Lands, Tenements, Goods, or Chatteis, to the Party making the same Information.  
[Which deserves Particular Notice:] Yet observe, how the same Reverend Lord Coolt, in the Place before-cited, descants on this Act.  
By Pretext (saith he) of this Law, Empson and Dudley did commit upon the Subject unsufferable Pressures and Oppressions; and therefore, this Statute was Justly, soon after the Decease of Henry the Seventh, Repealed by an Act of Parliament, 1 H. 8. Cap. 8. A good Caveat to Parliaments, to leave all Causes to be measured by that Golden, and Strait-Mete-Wand of the Law, and not to the incertain and crooked Cord of Discretion.  
It is not almost Credible, (continues the same Judicious Author) to foresee, when any Maxim, or Fundamental-Law of this Realm [He means, as to this particular Case, Trials per Pais, that is, by Juries] is Altered, what dangerous Inconveniences do follow. Which most expressly appears by this Most  & Strange Act: For hereby, not only Empson and Dudley themselves; but such Justices of Peace, Corrupt Men as they caused to be Authorized, Committed most grievous and heavy Oppressions and Exactions, Grinding of the Faces of poor Subjects by Penal Laws, be they never so Obsolete, or unfit for the Time, [Suppose, for a Parallel in our Times, putting the Statutes against Popish Recusants, in Execution against Protestant Dissenters, at a Juncture when Popery was just ready to overrun us all] by Information only, without any Presentment or Trial by Jury, being The Ancient Birthright of the Subject: But to Hear and Determine the same, by their Discretion. These, and other like Oppressions and Exactions by, or by Means of Empson and Dudley, and their Instruments, brought Infinite Treasures to the King's Coffers; whereof the King, in the End, with great Grief and Compunction, Repent.  
This Statute of 11 H. 7 We have Recited, and shown the Inconveniencies thereof; to the end, that the like should never hereafter be attempted in any Court of Parliament: And that others might avoid the Fearful End of these Two Time-Servers, Empson and Dudley.  
Thus far that Oracle of our English Laws. Wherein be pleased to observe:  
First, That he sticks not to call even an Act of Parliament, most  and Strange: And in the Second Part of his Institutes, fol. 51.  and Injurious; because it Altered a Fundamental-Law of the Realm, viz. Denied Trial by Juries, a most Essential Part of English Freedom, and never to be parted with.  
Secondly, Observe what became of these Two Wicked Men, though they had such a Colour of Law to bear them out: They were, in the Beginning of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, (first) Indicted for other base Practices, in Finding of False Offices for the King, to the Damage and Disherison of His Subjects: Which Indictment ran as follows (see Cook's Instit. Part the Fourth, fol. 198.)  
Juratores praesentant quod Richardus Empson nuper de London Miles, etc. In English thus:  
THe Jurors present, That Richard Empson, late of London, Knight, late Counsellor of the most Excellent Prince, Henry the Seventh, late King of England, on the Tenth Day of May, in the Twentyeth Year of the said late King, and divers Times before and after, at London, etc. Not having God before his Eyes; but as the Son of the Devil, imagining the Honour, Dignity, and Prosperity of the said late King; and the Prosperity of His Kingdom of England, not at all to Value or Regard: But to the end, that he might obtain to be a more Singular Favourite of the said late King, whereby he Himself might be made a Noble or Great Man, and Govern the whole Kingdom of England at his Pleasure; Falsely, Deceitfully, and Treasonably Subverting the La●y of England, did (amongst other Things) the Day and Year aforesaid, at London, in the Parish and Ward aforesaid, procure, and cause to be found divers false Inquisitions, and Offices of Intrusions, and Alienations of divers Leige-Subject's Manors, Lands, and Tenements; that they held the Manors, Lands, and Tenements in those Inquisitions specified of our Lord the King, in Capite, or otherwise; when in Truth it was not so. And afterwards, when the said Leige-Subjects of our Lord, the late King, would have tendered and alleged Traverses to the said Inquisitions, in the Court of Him, the said late King, according to the Law of England; they could not be admitted to those Traverses: But he, the said Richard Empson, debarred and delayed them from the same, till they had agreed with him, to pay divers Great and Insupportable Fines and Redemptions; as well for the Profit of the said late King, as for the proper, private Advantages of him, the said Richard; to the great Impoverishment of the said Subjects. And that the said Richard, the Day and Year aforesaid, in the Parish and Ward aforesaid, and several Times before and after, divers Leige-Subjects of the said late King, holding of out said Lord the King, divers Manors, Lands, and Tenements, by Knight's-Service, and themselves being (by the Death of their Ancestors) under Age, and so in the Wardship of the King, by Reason of their Tenure, when they came to lawful Age, and aught to have had due Livery of their Manors, Lands, and Tenements, according to the Custom and Law of England, and would have Prosecuted the same according to the Course of Chancery; did refuse them so to do, and totally deny and erclude; until they had made with him, the said Richard, divers great Fines and Redemptions, more than they could bear; as well for the Gain of the said late King, as for the private Benefit of him, the said Richard: Whereby many of the said late King's People were by such Grievances, and  Extortions many ways vered: Insomuch, that the Subjects of the said late King, did manifoldly murmur, and bear ill Will against the said late King; to the great Peril of Him, the said late King, His Kingdom of England, and the Subversion of the Laws and Customs of this Realm.  
'Tis true, (saith my Lord Cook, Fourth Part of his Institutes, fol. 41.) in this Indictment [Which, Mutatis mutandis, we are to suppose, was alike against Dudley] the Word proditory, [That is to say, Treasonably] was used but for Aggravation, and as a Preparative (for a Prosecution) to Greater Offences. For they were not to escape with a Charge of Misdemeanour only: But in the same Year, they were both Indicted of High-Treason, both by the Common-Law, and Act of Parliament. And in the Second Year of King Henry the Eighth, they both Lost their Heads.  
Thus, that Profound Judge speaks of them, who 4. Instit. fol. 41. concludes the Story of these Time-serving, Self-designing Judges, with this most remarkable Epiphonema: Qui eorum vestigiis insistunt, eorum Exitus prehorrescant; Those that shall dare tread their Steps, let them dread (or expect) the like dismal Ends.  
Sir Richard Baker, the Best perhaps (for want of a better) of our Modern English Historians, gives somewhat a more particular Account of the Fate of these Two Corrupt Hucksters of Law and Justice: Which be pleased to Peruse in his own Words, fol. 254.  
Speaking of King Henry the Eighth's general Pardon, at his first coming to the Crown, and how he Ordered Restitution to be made, of all Goods unjustly taken from any. He Adds:  
And because the Instruments of such Injustice are Always most Odious; and nothing gives the People so much Contentment, as to see their Persecutors Punished. He therefore caused Empson and Dudley, the Two Chief Actors of the late unjust Proceed, to be Committed to the Tower, and divers of their Inferior Agents, called Promoters [The Rascally Informers, Pensionary Affidavit-Men, or (if you please) Robin Hogg's of that Age] As Camby, Page, Derby, Wight, Simpson, and Storckton, to be set on the Pillory in Cornhill, with Papers on their Heads, and then to Ride through the City with their Faces to the Horse-Tails, with the shame whereof, in Seven Days after they all Died in Newgate.  
Shortly after a Parliament was called; whereof Sir Thomas Ingleby was chosen Speaker: And therein Empson, and Dudley were Accused of High-Treason, and after Arraigned; Edmund Dudley, in Guild-Hall, on the Seventeenth of July; and Sir Richard Empson at Northampton, in October following. And on the Seventeenth of August, the Year following, [Which was Anno Domini, 1510.] they were both of them Beheaded on the Tower-Hill; and their Bodies and Heads Buried, the one at whitefriars, the other at the Black.  
And also, by an Act of 1 H. 8th. Cap. 6. the before-recited Injurious Statute of 11 H. 7. was made void, and repealed; and the Reason thereof is yielded, for that by Force of the said Act it was manifestly known, that many Sinister and Crafty, Feigned, and Forged Informations, had been pursued against divers of the King's Subjects, to their great Damage and wrongful Vexation.  
For it is not Credible, (saith the Lord Cook, Second Part of his Institutes, fol. 51.) What horrid Oppressions and Exactions, to the undoing of Infinite Numbers of People, were Committed by Colour of that Act, shaking the Fundamental-Law of the Land: The ill Success whereof, and the Fearful Ends of these Two Oppressors, should deter others from Committing the like; and admonish Parliaments, That instead of this Ordinary and Precious Trial, per Legem Terrae, they bring not in Absolute and Partial Trials by Discretion.  
So much touching Empson and Dudley, those Names of Ignomony and Detestation. Let us now proceed to the Famous Case of Ship-Money, in the Reign of King Charles the First, and the Extrajudicial and Ilegal Opinions of the Judges therein Delivered, with the dismal Consequences thereof, as well to themselves, as to the King, and whole Realm.  
KING Charles the First came to the Crown 27 March, 1625. In the Three First Years of His Reign, he called Three several Parliaments; but none of them Complying to give so much Money, as was Expected: But rather insisting upon Complaints against Buckingham, the then Grand Favourite, and to have Public Grievances Redressed, They were all Dissolved in Discontent; and no more Parliaments spoken of, till that of the Thirteenth of April, 1640. (which was likewise suddenly Dissolved.) During this long Interval, or Absence of those whom the Laws had Entrusted with Keeping the Right Keys of the Public Purse, there were some that would needs be Tampering to Pick it; I mean, several little Intrigues were set on Foot, to Supply the Court, and get Money from the Subjects, without their Common Consent in Parliament; (that good Old Course, which Never Failed any KING, upon any Just Occasion, or where they knew it should not be diverted to the KING's Dishonour, and the Nations further Grievance) Of this kind were, 1. The Privy Seals issued. 2. Benevolence required. 3. Commissions of Loan. 4. The Business of Knighthood; whereby all persons Seized of Lands and Rents of Forty Pounds per Annum, or upwards, were by Proclamation Summoned, either to appear, and take upon them the Degree of Knighthood, or else were liable to be Fined for Respite of the same. Which (alone saith Baker, fol. 449.) brought an Hundred Thousand Pounds or more, into the Exchequer.  
But all this was still thought too little: These Devices might serve for a present Shift, once, and no more; but there wanted a Continual Fund, or Constant Supply, as oft as the Court wanted, or thought fit to require Money, without being beholden to Parliaments. Whereupon, 5ly. By the fatal Advice (as 'tis said) of Noy, the then Attorney General, the King was put upon this Project of raising Money, by Issuing out Writs, Commanding his Subjects to be Rated, and Assessed in such and such Sums, for Building, and Equipping of Ships, for the public Defence of the Kingdom: Which the said Attorney persuaded his Majesty might be Justified by ancient Precedents. In pursuance hereof, the King in the Nineth Year of his Reign, Issued out certain Writs of that kind, to the Seaports, and Maritine Parts of the Realm: And finding (for the most part) a punctual Obedience, and good Advantage thereby; it was in short time after, advised to Extend the same Charge to all the Counties of this Realm, though never so remote from the Seas; wherein, meeting with some ●hat refused to pay, as Conceiving the same Unlawful, the Judges (who by their Oaths, are the King's proper Counsellors in all difficulties concerning the Law) were to be Consulted with. So, a Letter was Written to them, from the King in these Words: [Baker's Chron. fol. 455.]  
To our Trusty, and wellbeloved Sir John Bramston, Knight, Chief Justice of our Bench; Sir John Finch, Knight, Chief Justice of our Court of Common pleas; Sir Humphrey Davenport, Knight, Chief Baron of our Court of Exchequer; And to the rest of the Judges of our Court of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and the Barons of our Court of Exchequer.  
Charles Rex. TRusty and Wellbeloved, We greet you well:  
Taking into our Princely Consideration, that the Honour and Safety of this our Realm of England, (the Preservation whereof, is Only Entrusted to our Care) was, and is more nearly concerned, than in late or former, times; as well by divers Counsels, and Attempts to take from us the Dominion of the Seas; of which we are sole Lord, and Right Owner, and Proprietor; and the Loss whereof, would be of greatest Danger and Peril to this Kingdom, and other our Dominions, and many other ways. We for the avoiding of these, and the like Dangers; well Weighing with ourselves, that where the Good, and Safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned, and the whole Kingdom in Danger, there the Charge, and Defence ought to be Borne by all the Realm in general, did for the preventing so public a Mischief, resolve with ourselves, to have a Royal Navy prepared, that might be of Force and Power (with Almighty God's Blessing and Assistance) to Protect, and Defend this our Realm, and our Subjects therein, from all such Perils and Dangers: And for that purpose, we Issued forth Writs under our great Seal of England, Directed to all our Sheriffs of our several Counties of England, and Wales; Commanding thereby all our said Subjects in every City, Town, and Village, to provide such a Number of Ships well-furnished, as might serve for this Royal Purpose; and which might be done with the greatest Equality that could be. In performance whereof, though generally throughout all the Counties of this our Realm, we have found in our Subjects, great Cheerfulness, and Alacrity; which we Graciously Interpret as a Testimony, as well of their Dutiful Affection to us, and our Service, as of the Respect they have to the Public, which well becometh every good Subject. Nevertheless, finding that some few happily out of Ignorance, what the Laws and Customs of this Realm are, or out of a desire to be eased in their Particulars, how General soever their Charge be, or aught to be, have not yet Paid, and Contributed to their several Rates, and Sessments that were set upon them. And foreseeing in our Princely Wisdom; divers Suits and Actions, are not unlike to be Commenced, and Prosecuted in our several Courts at Westminster: We desirous to avoid such Inconveniencies, and out of our Princely Love, and Affection to all our People, being willing to prevent such Errors as any of our Loving Subjects may happen to run into; have thought fit, in a Case of this Nature, to Advise with you our Judges, who we doubt not are well. Studied, and Informed in the Rights of our Sovereignty; and because the Trials of our several Courts, by the Formalities in Pleading, will require a long Protraction, We have thought fit by this Letter directed to you All, to require your Judgements in the Case, as it is set down in the Enclosed Paper; which will not only gain Time, but also be of more Authority to overrule any Prejudicated Opinions of others in the Point. Given under Our Signet, at Our Court of White-Hall, the Second of February, in the Twelfth Year of Our Reign, 1636.  
The CASE propounded in the Paper enclosed, was thus worded:  
Charles Rex.  
WHen the Good and Safety of the Kingdom (in General) is concerned, and the whole Kingdom in Danger; Whether may not the KING, by Writ under the Great Seal of England, Command all the Subjects in His Kingdom, at their Charge, to Provide and Furnish such Number of Ships with Men, Victuals, and Munition, and for such Time as He shall think fit, for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom, from such Danger and Peril? And by Law compel the Doing thereof, in case of Refusal or Refractoriness? And, Whether in such Case, is not the KING the sole Judge, both of the Danger, and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided?  
To which, the JUDGES delivered their Opinions as followeth:  
May it please Your most Excellent Majesty!  
WE have, according to Your majesty's Command, severally, and every Man by himself, and All of us together, taken into Serious Consideration, the Case and Questions Signed by Your Majesty, and enclosed in Your Letter. And We are of Opinion, That when the Good and Safety of the Kingdom (in General) is Concerned, and the whole Kingdom in Danger, Your Majesty may, by Writ under the Great Seal of England, Command all the Subjects of This Your Kingdom, at their Charge, to Provide and Furnish such Number of Ships with Men, Victuals, and Ammunition; and for such Time, as Your Majesty shall think fit, for the Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom, from such Peril and Danger: And that by Law, Your Majesty may Compel the Doing thereof, in case of Refusal or Refractoriness. And we are also of Opinion, That in such Case, Your Majesty is the sole Judge, both of the Danger, and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided.  


John Bramston,  
John Finch,  
Hum. Davenport,  
John Denham,  
Richard Hutton,  
William Jones,  
George Crook,  
Thomas Trevor,  
George Vernon,  
Robert Barclay,  
Francis Crawley,  
Richard Weston.    
But it is to be noted, That though all the Judges did thus Sign this Answer; yet it was not according to all their Opinions; for Crook and Hutton disassented, and declared, That such a Charge could not be laid by any such Writ; but by Parliament. But the Major-Part of the Judges, being absolutely Resolved upon that Opinion, pressed them to Subscribe likewise with the rest; for that the Greater Number must involve and conclude the Less; which, they said, was usual in all Cases of Reference; And that the Lesser Number must submit to the Opinion of the More, although they varied in Opinion: As in the Courts of Law; If Three Judges agree in Opinion against One or Two, where there is Five Judges, Judgement is to be Entered per Curiam, if the Major Part agree, and the Others are to submit unto it, etc. (These are the very Words of Judge Crook, excusing himself for having thus Subscribed: See the Arguments on Hampden's Case, p. 12.)  
Having thus got the Business backed with the Subscriptions of all the Judges of England, the same were Enrolled in all the Courts of Westminster-Hall: And now, they began to Prosecute briskly, all the Defaulters; amongst whom, the Chiefest was John Hampden of Buckingham-shire, Esquire, who had upon one of these Ship- Writs directed to the Sheriff of that County, been Assessed Twenty Shillings for his Lands in Stoke-Mandevil, in that County; which not being paid, was Certified (amongst others) into the Chancery, upon a Writ of Certiorari, Dated 9 Martii, Anno 12. Car. by a Schedule thereunto annexed; and by a Writ of Mittimus, Teste 5 Maii, 13 Car. transmitted into the Exchequer; with a Command there, to do for the Levying of the Sums so Assessed and Unpaid; Prout de Jure, & secundum, Legem Regni nostri Angliae suerit faciendum; So as of Right, and according to the Law of our Kingdom of England was to be done; whereupon a Scire Facias issued out of the Exchequer, reciting the said Writs, to warn Mr. Hampden (amongst others) to show Cause, why he should not be Charged with this Money. Upon this, he being Summoned, Appeared, and demanded Oyer of those Writs and Schedule; which being Entered, he Demurred in Law; that is, demanded the Opinion and Judgement of the Court of Exchequer, Whether this Writ were sufficient in Law, to Force him to pay the said Twenty Shillings.  
This being a Great and General Case, the Barons of the Exchequer, desired the Assistance of the rest of the Judges, who did Join accordingly. The Case was argued, first, by Council on both Sides; and next, by the Judges severally; of whom, Sir Richard Hutton, Knight, one of the Judges of the Common-Pleas, and Sir Richard Crook, Knight, one of the Judges of the King's-Bench, in large and learned Arguments, (since Printed) did show the Illegality of such Writs, and gave their Opinion; That the Defendant Hampden, ought not to be Charged: But the rest of the Judges were resolved to carry the Point for the King; and accordingly gave their Opinions, That the Defendant ought to be Charged. And then, it was the Part of the Barons of the Exchequer, to give Judgement; which was Entered in these Words:  
Quod seperalia Brevia predicta, & Retorn' eorundem, ac Schedul' praedict' eisdem Annex', ac materia in eisdem content' sufficient' in Liege Exist' ad praefat Johannem Hampdem de predictis viginti solidis super ipsum informa, & ex causa praedictae Assessae onerand. Ideo consideratum est per eosdem Barones quod pr●●…ctus Johannes Hampden. de eisdem viginti solidis oneretur, & inde satisfaciat: That the said several Writs and Returns thereof, and the Schedules thereunto annexed, and the Matter in the same contained, are sufficient in Law to Charge the said John Hampden with, the Twenty Shillings upon him, in the Form, and by Virtue of the Assessment aforesaid imposed. Therefore, it is considered by the said Barons, That the said John Hampden shall be Charged, and shall satisfy the same.  
This Judgement was imposed, as such an Infallible Determination of the Law in this Case, that no further Dispute would be allowed thereof to any others; insomuch, that a Person of Honour, having a Case depending in the King's-Bench, was denied any Argument or Debate, concerning the Right of Ship-Money, for no other Reason, but that it had been by the former Judgement, decided already in the Exchequer.  
It may perhaps be said: This Imposition of Ship-Money was small and inconsiderable; Mr. Hampden, a Gentleman of a fair Fstare, was Assessed but Twenty Shillings: And, Why should any Body-scruple such a petty Business, when the King Commanded it? Was not the Remedy far worse than the Disease? Why should any Subject exspend a great deal of Money in Law, to avoid Payment of so Trivial a Sum? Or, What Harm could accrue to the Public, by the Judges allowing the King Power to Impose such an Assessment, when it was for the Defence of the Realm from Eminent and Imminent Danger, and he exerted that Power so favourably, etc.  
In Answer to such Objections, it must be said; That true it is, it was then only Mr. Hampden's Case; but the whole Nation, every individual Subject of England, was concerned in it: nay, so far concerned, that all his Estate and Liberty was therein given up. The Question was not Quantum, but Quo Jure? If Public Danger might give the King Title to lay Impositions without a Parliament, and He alone were Judge of such Danger, When might it not be alleged? If Twenty Shillings were Assessed on Mr. Hampden that Year, How did it appear, but Twenty Pounds might be required the next, and Two Thousand Pounds the Year following? And, What Use, what Occasion would the Court have had for ever afterwards, of a Parliament? But as to the Illegality of these Ship-Writs, I refer the Reader to Judge Crook's Argument; where the same is Demonstrated to be against the Common-Law, against divers Statutes, not to be maintained by any Prerogative, or Power Royal, unwarrantable by any former Precedents, etc.  
Let us see then, what were the Consequences of these Extrajudicial Opinions, and this Illegal Judgement of the Judges.  
First, As to the King: They thereby misled him (as much as in them lay) to Discompose the Harmony of Government; to Entrench upon the Property of His Subjects; and (contrary to his Intentions) by Colour of Right, to violate the Laws, which, no doubt, that Good Prince meant to have preserved Inviolable.  
Secondly, As to the Subjects: They were not only hereby Injured, but their Affections Alienated from their Sovereign; which to occasion, is no doubt a very High (because almost Irreparable) Treason.  
The Genuine Sense of these Resolutions, being no less than this; That the King of England; as often as Himself pleaseth, may declare the Kingdom to be in Danger, and that so often, His Majesty, for Prevention of such Dangers, may, by His Writ under the Great Seal of England, altar the Property of the Subject's Goods, without their Consent in Parliamen; and that in such Proportions, as His Majesty shall think fit: And besides, may deprive them of the Liberty of their Persons, and that in such Manner as Himself shall please.  
Thirdly, As to the Judges themselves: It proved deservedly Fatal; For no sooner was a Parliament Called, but they were called to Account for these their Illegal Opinions and Judgement.  
And after a long Debate, on Monday the Seventh of December, 1640. these Four several Votes Passed upon them, without so much as One Negative Voice to any of them, viz.  
First, THat the Charge imposed upon the Subjects, for the Providing and Furnishing of Ships; and the Assessments for Raising of Money for that purpose, commonly called Ship-Money, are against the Laws of the Realm, the Subjects Right of Property, and contrary to former Resolutions in Parliament, and to the Petition of Right.  
Secondly, That the Extrajudicial Opinions of the judges, Published in the Star-Chamber, and Enrolled in the Courts at Westminster (before Recited) in the whole, and in every part of them are against the Laws of the Realm, the Right of Property, and the Liberty of the Subjects, and contrary to former Resolutions in Parliament; and to the Petition of Right.  
Thirdly, That the Writ to the Sheriff of Bucks (particularly Recited) and the other Writs, commonly called Ship-Writs; are against the Laws of the Realm, the Right of Property, and the Liberty of the Subjects, and contrary to former Resolutions in Parliament, and to the Petition of Right.  
Fourthly, That the judgement in Mr. Hampden's Case (as before Recited) in the matter and substance thereof; and in that it was conceived that Mr. Hampden was any way Chargeable, is against the Laws of the Realm, the Right of Property, the Liberty of the Subjects, and contrary to former Resolutions in Parliament, and to the Petition of Right.  
These Votes being Transmitted by the Commons to the House of Lords; Their Lordships did Concur therein. And on Friday the 26. of February, 1640. It was Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in the High Court of Parliament, Assembled; That the Lord-Keeper, or Master of the Rolls, the Two Lord Chief Justices, and the Lord Chief Baron; and likewise the Chief Clerk of the Star-Chamber, should bring into the Upper House of Parliament, the Records of the Judgement against Mr. Hampden, concerning Ship-Money, in each of those several Courts, and that a Vacat thereof should be made. And that a Copy of the Judgement of the Parliament, concerning the Illegality thereof, should be Delivered to the several Judges of Assize; and that they should be required to Publish the same in all the Circuits. Which on the 27. of the same February, was done accordingly: the said Records being Vacated, and the Rolls Crossed with a Pen in the House of Lords, and Subscribed with the Clerk of the Parliament's Hand.  
And soon after, several of the beforenamed Judges were Impeached for the same in Parliament: And not daring to stand the Shock, some of them, as the Lord Chief Justice Finch, Fled beyond the Seas; and others Absconded. And soon after, came on the Unnatural Civil-Wars, so Destructive to King and Kingdom; which, though no way Justifiable, yet it cannot be denied; but they were not a little Occasioned, and the Animosities of the People, blown into an Untameable Flame, by these base Traitorous Proceed of those Sycophant Judges. And Woe unto those (say Sacred Oracles) by whom Offences come.  
However, after so many dismal Experiences, and fair Warnings, and the Miraculous Restauration of His present Majesty, our Gracious Sovereign (whom God long Preserve) a Prince of Incomparable Lenity, and Good-natured beyond Example; it might be hoped, that none, Preferred to the Public Seats of Justice, durst to have Acted ●o contrary to His Royal Incimations, as to violate those Laws, which He Himself has Sworn to Maintain, and Entrusted them to Administer: Yet so Base and Extravagant are some, as even to abuse the Favours of the Best of Princes, and puffed up with Preferment, will take no Admonition from the Falls of their Headstrong Predecessors; but still presume to sully those Ermines, (the Emblems of Innocency and Integrity) which they wear, and adventure: on the same Destructive Precipices.  
You have heard, how heinously our Prudent Ancestors resented the Violation of their Liberties, (though by an Act) in Trials of the Freeborn People of England Without juries'. Next to which, is the Ruffing, Hectoring, and Over-awing of Juries: For, What real Difference is there, betwixt allowing no Juries at all, and Menacing them into a Compliance (contrary to Law, and their own Consciences) with the Corrupt Humours, and Time- serving Interests of ill Judges? Of this Crime, the Lord Chief Justice Keeling, about the Year 1666. (a Time when God's General Judgements on this Sinful Land, might have awakened them to greater Circumspection and Uprightness) was not only Guilty, but Questioned for the same, even by That very Parliament, which was never extraordinarily Celebrated for bringing Public Vermin to Punishment: Yet such a Sense they had of these ill Practices, that in their Journal, we find the following Votes on this Occasion.  
Die Mecurii 11ᵒ Decembris, 1667.  
THE House Resuming the Hearing of the rest of the Report, touching the Matter of Restraint upon Juries; and upon the Examination of divers Witnesses in several Cases of Restraints put upon Juries, by the Lord Chief Justice Keeling,  
Resolved, as followeth;  
First, That the Proceed of the said Lord Chief Justice, in the Cases now Reported, are Innovations in the Trials of Men for their Lives and Liberties; and that he hath used an Arbitrary, and Illegal Power, which is of dangerous Consequence to the Lives and Liberties of the People of England, and tends to the Introducing of an Arbitrary Government.  
Secondly, That in the Place of Judicature, the Lord Chief Justice hath Undervalved, Vilified, and Contemned Magna Charta; the great Preserver of our Lives, Liberties, and Property.;  
Thirdly, That he be brought to Trial, in Order to Condign Punishment, in such Manner as the House shall judge most Fit and Requisite.  
And again:  
Die Veneris 13ᵒ Decembris, 1667.  
Resolved,  
THat the Precedents, and Practice, for Fining or Imprisoning of Jurors for Giving their Verdicts, is Illegal.  
Here you see the ill Practices of that Chief Justice, were Branded in Parliament, and he was ordered to be Prosecuted; though by reason of the Houses being Prorogued, and he himself not long after Dying in Discontent, we do not find there were any further Proceed made therein.  
At the Sessions for London, Sept. 1670. William Penn, and William Mead, (Two of the People commonly called Quakers) being Indicted: For that they the Fourteenth of August before, did with others, to the Number of Three Hundred, in Grace-Church-Street, Unlawfully and Tumultuously Assemble, etc. by reason whereof a great Tumult did there happen, in Contempt of the King, great Disturbance of the Peace, & Terror of the People, etc. And the Jury (after having been several times sent back, and kept close from the Saturday till the Monday Morning) bringing them in Not Guilty, Sir John Howel, than Recorder of London, presumed to Fine the said Jury Forty Marks a Man, and to Lie in Prison till paid. Being thus in Custody, Edward Bushel, one of the said Jurymen, brought his Habeas Corpus in the Court of Common-Pleas; and upon a long Argument, it was Adjudged by the whole Court, That the said Fining and Commitment was Illegal: Whereupon the said Bushel was Discharged, and left to bring his Action for False Imprisonment, against the said Recorder: Which Case is Reported by Vaughan, at that time Chief Justice of the said Court, in his Reports, Licenced and Approved of by the present Lord- Chancellor of England, Sir William Scroggs, since Lord Chief-Justice of the King's-Bench, my Lord North, Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas; and all the Judges of England. But as to the Illegality of any Courts Imposing upon, Menacing, Fineing, or Imprisoning Juries, see a small Treatise, Entitled, The English-Man's Right, Printed for R. Janeway, 1680. and another called, The Grand Iury-Man's Oath and Office Explained, Sold by Langley Curtis, on Ludgate-Hill; both well worthy the Perusal of every True English-Man.  
What Proceed have been since, or rather are at this instant pendent against Judges, for Hectoring of Juries, and other Illegal Arbitrary Proceed, are too fresh in every Body's Memory, to need a Recital. Instead of which, I shall rather Insert the Form of the Oath, Taken by Judges at their first Admittance to that Office; which runs as follows:  
The OATH of a JUDGE. In Dorso Claus ': de Anno 20. Edw. 31. Part. Prima.  
YE shall Swear, That Well and Truly ye shall Serve our Sovereign Lord the King, and His People, in the Office of Justice: And that ye shall Counsel our Sovereign Lord the King, in His Needs: And that ye shall not give any Counsel, or Assent to any thing, the which might turn to Hurt, or Dis-heriting of the King, by any Way or Colour: And that ye shall not know any Hurt, or Disheriting of the King; but that ye shall make it to Him known, by You, or by some other Person: And that ye shall do equal Law and Execution of Right, to all the King's Subjects, Rich and Poor, without having Regard to any Person: And that ye shall not take by You, or by any other privily, ne apart, any Gift or Reward of Gold, or of Silver, nor of any other Thing, the which might turn you to Profit, unless it be Meat or Drink; and that of Little Value, of any Man that shall have any Plea, or Process, hanging before you, as long as the same before yourself such Pleas and Processes shall be hanging, nor after for that Cause: And that ye shall take no Fees, as long as ye be justice, nor Robe of any Person, great or small, in any Case, but of the King Himself: And that ye shall not give any Counsel, or Advice to any Person, great or small, in any Ease, where the King is Party: And in case that any Persons, of what ever Estate they be of, come before You in Sessions, with Force and Arms, or otherwise, against the Peace, or against the Form of the Statute thereof made, for to disturb the Execution of the Common-Law, or for to Menace the People, that they may not do the Law; That ye shall Arrest their Bodies, and put them in Prison; and in case they be such as ye may not Arrest, that ye shall Certify the King of their Names, and of their Misdoing hastily; to that End, that he may thereof Ordain Remedy: & that ye shall not maintain by yourself, nor by none other privily nor openly, any Plea or Quarrel hanging in the King's Courts, or elsewhere in the Country: And that ye shall not Delay any Person of Common-Right, for the Letters of the King, or of any other Person, nor for any other Cause: And in case that any Letters come to you contrary to the Law, that ye shall nothing do for such Letters, but ye thereof shall Certify the King: And ye shall proceed to do the Law, the same Letters notwithstanding; and that ye shall do, And procure the Profit of the King, and his Crown in all Things, where ye them Reasonably may do. And in case that ye be found in Default hereafter, in any of the Points aforesaid, ye shall be at the King's Will of Bodies, Lands, and of Honour, to do thereof that that shall please the King.  
This well-contrived, necessary Oath, prescribed by the Prudence of our Forefathers, would bear a large Comment; but we must hasten, and shall only remark:  
First, That they Swear, Well and Truly (that is, Uprightly, and according to Law) to Serve the King, and his People.  
Secondly, That they shall do Equal Right, and Execution of Law, to all the King's Subjects, Rich and Poor; (that is, without Partiality, Favour, Malice, etc.) Justice is Pictured Blind in respect of the Subject, not the Object: She has a Balance, not to weigh Gold, but the Crime: She has regard to Offences, not Persons.  
Thirdly, That if any Letters from the King (unduly obtained, for so all such are supposed to be) shall be borough to them, contrary to Law, they are not to regard them; much less are they to value any Verbal Commands, or little Rascally Insinuations of any Court-Favourites, huffing Grandees, or small Minions of State.  
Fourthly, That by this their Oath, Judges are to proceed according to Law; their Business is Jus Dicere, to Declare and Administer the Laws Established; not Jus Dare, to Impose their own Whimsical, Arbitrary, Peevish, or Self-designing Opinions, for Law; or to Usurp a Legislative Power, so as deliver that to be Law, which in truth is not so. And if they shall presume to offend herein, they are Exemplarily to be punished: For since 'tis a known Maxim of Law, Ignorantia Juris non excusat, That Ignorance of the Law shall excuse no Man; (The Reason of which, is, because every Man is supposed to be Privy, and consenting to all our Laws, by his Representatives in Parliament.) How much less are Judges (whose Profession and Office it is to Understand the Law; and therefore, must take Notice of it, at their Peril) to be Indulged? Under what Character will they plead Excuse? Are they Persons of known Learning, and strong Natural Parts, great Reading, exqusite Eloquence, & c? All this but aggravates their Fault, that they should abuse such good Gifts, to the Dishonour of the King that Commissions them, and Prejudice of His People that expected more exact Deal from such Eminent Accomplishments. Will they shelter themselves under the  Plea of Ignorance? This is already shown to be an Invalid Allegation; and besides, 'tis a Reflection on that Royal Power that Preferred them: And, What infinite Mischiefs (of which there is no Particular Complaint or Information) may the Subjects suffer in their Lives, and Fortunes, under such Ignorance, which is always attended with Equal Presumption? Or, lastly, Suppose it should be offered in their Favour, That for some time, at first, they were Upright, and have had the Reputation of Prudence and Integrity, in all Cases, except such and such: for which Now they are questioned: To this it may be fitly Answered, (as he of Lacedaemon said of the Athenians) If they carried themselves Well, when Time was, and now Ill, they deserve a Double Punishment; because they are not Good, as they were; and because they are Evil, as they were not. The Judges, 'tis true, are declared in the Parliament-Roll of the 11 R. 2. to be Executors of the Statutes, Judgements, and Ordinances of Parliament: But they must not make themselves the Executioners of them too, by endeavouring the Destruction of the Fundamentals of our Laws and Liberties. The Law is the Temple, the Sanctuary, whither the Subject is to run for Shelter and Defence: But if the Judges, Sacerdotes Justiti●e, those Priests of Justice, shall, like those of Delphos, utter False, Ambiguous, and Time-Serving Oracles, Where is the Comfort of the Poor Votaries? Will not this Sanctuary then become Templum sine Numine, like that of the Roman Emperor, who after he had built it, put no Gods into it? We shall have the Dead Killing-Letter of the Law, but not the Quickening, Preserving Sense of it: The Fabric and Formalities of the Temple; but the Goddess Astraea, and the Dii Tutelares, all that should Conserve our Liberties and Properties, will be vanished: And instead thereof, we shall have but an Indian Pa-god, a frightful, terrible Idol of Arbitrary Power, delighting in Humane Sacrifices, and only Adorable for Averting that Mischief, with which it threatens us.  
But, Contraria juxta se posita magis elucescunt: Contraries illustrate each other. We have hitherto Treated the Reader with Dolesome Narratives of Lewd Judges: Let us now (briefly) Entertain him with an Account of some Good and Imitable Ones; Memoria Justi in Aetermun.  
In the Reign of King H. 4. His Son and Heir apparent (than a Wild Youth, but afterwards as Solid, and Renowned a King, as most that have swayed the English Sceptre) hearing that one of his Companions was Arraigned for Felony before the Lord Chief Justice of England (I am sorry my narrow Reading has not brought me acquainted with his Honourable Name) came to the Bar, and offered to take away the Prisoner by force; but being withstood by the said Chief Justice, stepped to him, and Struck him over the Face; whereat the Judge nothing daunted, risen up, and with a Gravity becoming his Dignity, told him, That he did not this Affront to Him, but to the King his Father, in whose Place he sat; and therefore, forthwith Committed him to Prison. The Prince overawed with the Majesty of the Sage Judge's Expressions, calmly Suffered himself to be carried away by an ordinary Tip-Staff; which being told the King, He not a little Rejoiced, both that he had a Judge of such Courageous Integrity; and a Son of such Submissive Obedience to his Laws, Vide Baker fol. 163.  
The Famous Queen Elizabeth, having required a Charge upon divers of Her Subjects, by particular Letters from the Lords of Her Council, of several Sums of Money, for present Aid towards Her Wars in Ireland; hearing that one of Her Judges, viz. Mr. Justice Walmesley, being convened before the said Lords, for Nonpayment thereof, thereby Discouraging others; had Answered, That it was Contrary to Law that the same should be Imposed, there being an Express Statute against it; which He being a Judge, was bound by his Oath, to signify to Her Majesty, he being (as much as in him lay) a Conservator of the Queen's Oath in that behalf; Her Majesty was much Offended, that any such Imposition had been pretended to, and Commanded that it should be stopped from further Gathering; and to such as had paid it, their Money, by Her express Order, was Restored. Judge Crooks Argument in Hampden's Case, p. 57  
In the 29th. of the same Queen, Her Majesty having Erected a New-Office in the Common-Pleas, for making of Supersedeas on Exigents, She Grants it to one Cavendish Her Servant; sends to have him admitted, but the Judges delay the doing thereof, On this Reason, because the Prothonotaries, and Philizers Claimed the making those Writs. The Queen sends a Sharp Letter, and Commands them forthwith to Admit him: Then She sends a more positive Command, requiring the Reason of their Contempt and Disobedience. The Judges return the beforementioned Reason to the Lord Keeper, and Earl of Leicester (no mean Man in those Days) upon which, the Queen sends a Fourth Peremptory Message for their Admitting him, with this Reason: That if the others were put out, they were Rich, and Able Men, and that Her Courts of Justice were Open, where they might Demand their Right; for this was not to debar them Therefrom, but only to put them to their Action. The Honest Judges roturned this Answer, That the Queen had taken Her Oath, for the due Execution of Justice According to Law, and they did not doubt, but when Her Majesty was Informed it was against the Law, She would Act therein as became her. For their own parts, they had taken an Oath to God, to Her, and the Commonwealth; And if they should do it without Process of Law before them, and only upon Her Command put the others out of Possession, though the Right remained to them, it were a Breach of their Oath; and therefore, if the Fear of God were not Sufficient, they told Her the Punishment, that was Inflicted upon their Predecessors for Breach of their Oaths (citing Thorpe, etc.) might be a sufficient Warning to them: Whereupon the Queen hearing these Reasons, was Satisfied; and the said Judges heard no more of this Business.  
To Descend nearer our own Times, we cannot omit that grand Example of Uprightness, the ever Famous Sir Matthew Hale, late Lord Chief Justice of the King's-Bench; a Miracle for all other parts of Polite and Serious Learning, as well as profound Knowledge in the Laws of England. Of whom I shall yet, not offer any particular Instances, since his whole Life was one continued Thread of Sincere, and Understanding Justice: For as easily you might have justled the Sun out of the Ecliptic, as to have warped him from his constant Road of Integrity. An exact Standard whereby Future Princes may measure the Qualifications of their Judges; for though he were a most Loyal, and Zealous Servant to the Crown; yet he was so far from being ever Impeached by the Representative Body of the Nation, that no one Single Person (no not of those that were Cast before him) were ever heard to complain of his Conduct.  
And if any Latter Judges have been dismissed by false Tales of Sycophant Whisperers, or for opposing base Illegal Arbitrary Interests; as they have the Invaluable Satisfaction of a good Conscience for their Comfort; so they may be assured, they still appear more Glorious in the Eyes of all good English-Men at present, and will be Recorded more Venerable to Posterity, than any Robes or Preferment, sullied with Bribery, Flattery, or Treacherous Compliances, could renden them.  
However, we hope the Various Examples, we have here Enumerated from Authentic Records and Histories, may be sufficient to Deter future Judges from Ill Courses; and satisfy all the World, both in the Justice of the Parliaments late Proceed in this Case, and the Reasonableness of their Vote and intended Bill, That Judges henceforth should hold their Places, and Salaries, not Ad Placitum; but Quam Diu se bene gasserint. Which was the principal Aim of these Papers. Fiat Justitia.  
FINIS.